Process for treating plant material



28 192 7 F. K. FISH, JR

PROCESS FOR TREATING PLANT MATERIAL Filed July 11, 1925 v N VEN TOR.

- ATTORNEYS;

Q l'lflk for commercial uses.

Patented J te 28,1927.

I v 1,633,731 PATENT OFFICE,

FREDERICK K. FISH, JR., SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

rnoenss FOR TREATING PLANT, MATERIAL.

Application filed July 1 1, i925,ISerial No.

This invention relates to improvements in aprocess for treating plant material con-- taining eellulosie substance, such for in? stance, as-wood, lumber, pulp stock and other fibrous substances, and preparing such mate- One' of the objects of the.invention is to provide a process for quickly and economically treating fibrous materialwith a liquor initially charged with an alkali and solvent extractives from a" substance or' material,

similar to that being treated, or solvent extractives from such treated; material, to

- soften, attack and otherwise act on the conweakening or dissolving said cellulose;

stituents of the material under treatment, other than the contained cellulosejwithout' discoloring the fiber of the product.

v Taking'advantage of the use. of alkalis in the. treatment of plant material, as far. as it is known to me, I propose by x'nypresent invention to initially charge the treating liquor with an alkalior like reagent and sol vent extractives "from plant .material, to form a new'and more eifective liquor to act upon the plant" material under low temperature,' and to so cause a penetration/of the liquor .in'to the'inne'rmost cellular structure of the plant material to ensuree-fi'ective removal therefrom of constituents,"such for 40 instance as the object onable-resins and other objectionable reaction products. I accome ,plish this action. without in any way: im-

pairing the fiber content, and-thereby improve the substance for commercial ,use.

I have-found frompractical use that bytreating plant material. in liquor charged with the solvent extractives from plant material similar to the materialibei-ng treated,-

, and an alkali, and preveiiting the liquor and j volatile solvent extractives and the .material contacting with the' atmosp ere,

lant

. that a chemical actionor rel-action is brought.

' nated with the initiallyicharged liquor, in. a -'zone' chargedwith the liquor or the ex-i about; so that when the material is impregtractives thereot, the action produces a high 42,961, and in Canada necembe'r'zo, 19:4.

grade product. By my improved process, the objectionable products the material. I A further object of this invention is to provide a process for treating plant mateare removed from rial, wherein the various steps, and character of liquor employedin treating the material, 1

produces a product lighter in color than has heretofore been possible without v subse-- quently subjecting the product to a strong bleaching liquor.

1 A still further object or this invention is to provide. a, process wherein the treating liquor is initially charged with an alkali and solvent extractives of plant material, and after use on the treated material treatment of a charge of'plant material, said liquor being stronger in solvent extractives thanithe' initially charged liquor first used. Other objects and advantages will appear from the specific'description in the specification, and particularly pointed outin theclaims.

' V the-liquor is preserved, without contact with the atmosphere, and is used in "subsequent In order toobtain a eomprehensive understanding of my invention, reference is made to the-accompanying drawing, which illustrates diagrammatically one form of apparatus for carrying out the process.

It may be stated that the term charged "asused in this applicationiis in ten-dedtodistinguish the liquor employed from liquor in which an alkali is used in wood treating processes, but is free ofsolvent extractives at the time said liquor is initially introduced tothe material being treated.

In other words initially charged as herein used means that the liquor before actual treatment ,onthe material commences, con-" tains an; alkali and solventextractives ofv plant substance. I

. Solvent .extractives as used throughout this application means substances removed or liberated from the plant material by means of the particular digesting operation and at the temperature employed. therein, I

These extractives may be in-the form of gases or vapour and may be in solution or absorption in the liquor. Thus, alkali is a solvent but "not'a solvent extractive as used herein. Thus a distinction betweenso'lvent extractives and chemicalv re-agentsf as used 'will be apparent.

- In the drawings, illustrates a tank to receive the plant material betreated,

V which may be wood,lumber, chips or'any other fibrous material containing cellulose.

Suitably spaced from the tank 1, is a tank 2, in which the treating liquor is stored and preheated before being introduced to tank 7 1. A pipe 3, connects the bottom of the tank 1,with the top of the tank 2, a valve 4,-being' provided to regulate the flow of fluid -or volatile extrac'tives and the like, from tank 2 to tank 1. A pipe 5, communicates'with the tank 1, at or about the level of the li nor in tank 1, when the plant material is su merged, the other end of the pipe communicating with the lower portion of two tanks. In this pipe is a double acting pump 7*, to force liquor from one tank to the other. g

At the top of tank 1, is a closure 8, for

sealing the inlet through which the plant 'materlalto be treated is passed and adjacent thereto is a'relief valve 10. Exte'ndlng from the bottom of tank 1, is a drain pipe 11, provided with a valve 12, and adjacent thereto is a steam pipe 13, having a valve 14, for introducing steam to the'liquor in the tank 1, when carrying outthe process.

Communicating with the top of tank 2, is a steam pipe' 17, having a valve 18, and adjacent thereto is a pressure release pipe 19, provided with-a=valve 20. The bottom of the tank.2, is providedwith a pipe 21,

and a valve 22, to charge the tank with liquor, and in said bottom is a draw-01f pipe 23, provided with a valve 24, and a steam pipe 25, having a valve 26.-

Conimunicating with the top of 1, a pipe 27 having a valve 28, the pipe leading to a condenser 31 from the opposlte side ofwhich leads a pipe 31 having a valve 31".

The pipe 31 connectswith the suctionend of vacuum pump 31 from the exhaust .side of which leads a pipe 32,.prov1ded'w1th a valve 32*. Leading from the pipe 32 1s a pipe 33, having a valve 33, the plpe communicating with a tank 34. Extending from the tank 34, is a pipe line '35, leading to a pump 36 from the opposite side of I which leads a pipe 37,'having a valve 38,

the pipe 37 being connected with the bottom of tank 2.

Communicating with the bottom of tank 1, is a pipe 1 which. leads to a circulating pump 1 and from the opposite side of the pump leads a pipe 1,,hav1ng avalve 1 this-pipe communicating with the top of tank 1.

Extending from the bottom of the tank 1 is a valved pipe l leading to a blow pit 50.

V ispumped through pipe 1 is From the top of the blow pit leads a pipe 51, having a valve 52, pipe 51 leading to .'sired action on the fibrous material being treated. After the liquor treatment is completed, the liquor is reused, but since a cer tain amount of its alkali content has been used in the treatment on the wood. it is vagain strengthened by adding alkali for the subsequent treatment.

hen liquor is introduced into tank 2,' steam is admitted through pipe 25, and they liquor is heated to the desired degree say to or about274c F. and a pressure of about 30 lbs. is produced. Before charging the tank 1 with material to be treated, a sufiicient'quantity of alkali is introduced in the bottom of said tank. Then the material to be treated is run into the tank and valve 7 is partially opened to admitsufiicient-liquor from tankv 2, to allowof saturation of the material to be treated,and simultaneously valve 4, is partially opened to admit volatile extractives and alkalivapors into the liquor in the bottom of tank 1, in sufficient amount to maintain the desired temperature of the material and llquor in said tank 1, care be mgtaken to regulate the heat so as to avoid raising the temperature above 1 0 Pump 1 is started and the charge of liquor I to thetop of the tank and continuously sprays the liquor of the material, while the tank is being filled with said material. The pump circulates and sprays the liquor in the tank, which penetrates and saturates the materialand raises the temperature of the entire mass all material in the digester. When the desired amount of material has been fed to the tank, the closure 8 is put in place and sealed. Valve 33 is closed and. valves 28, 31 and 32* are opened, and vacuum pump 31 is started to exhaust the air from tank 1, to the at- 'mosphe're through pipe 27, condenser 31,

pipes 31 and 32, thus forming a vacuum of about 15 or 20 inches in the digester.

The vacuum withdraws the air from around the plant material and from the 1nterior of said material, to render the interiormoresusceptihle to the penetration of the liquor, even the innermost cells of the individual pieces. The vacuum is maintained for such length of time: as may be found desirable, this depending upon the physical bring characteristics of the plant material, and the 7 nature of the treatment the material is to lie-subjected. 3

ture of the material being further saturated with the alkali and solvent extractives, which produces in efiect a bleaching action. While the vacuum is on, valve 4 is kept open for continued admission of the volatile extractives to the liquor in the bottom of tankl. Y

When the material becomes thoroughly saturated, the vacuum .pump is stopped, and valves 28 and 32, are closed, and valve 4 is opened wide to admit a full charge of the alkali and solvent extractives to tank 1 to up the temperature of ,the material to or'about 212 F. The increased charge of alkali and solvent extractives under this higher heat removes resins and inter-cellular binding materials, previously softened and dissolved by the alkali and extractives under low temperature conditions, and a further bleaching action of the fibers is obtained.

"After the material has been treated at or about 212 F. for thirty minutes, more or less, the-temperature 'in-tank 1 is raisedto approximately 250 F; and a corresponding pressure of-15 lbs. This step is maintained I and alkali in a su for ten minutes more or less, and then valve 4 is closed. a During the vacuum 'periodthe'liquor in tank 2 is heated to the desired degree, and

4 the correspondin pressure raised in said tank, by introducing steam into the bottom, through pipe 25.

' 1 Valve 4 having been closed, valve 7 i s,

opened, and pump 7* started and-the liquor initially charged with'the solvent extractives rheated condition in tank 2, is by reason the pressure in said'tank and the action of the pump 7 forced over" into tank 1, until the plant material issubon the material being treated, theoperatio'n period mt ejproces s, a superheated liquor,

merged the level of the liquor in tank 1 being at -about the. level of pipe 5. f

When, the material is submerged in tank 1, its temperature is about. 250 F. This temperature, and a pressure of about lbs. is maintained by admitting steam to the tank through ipe 13, and is continued'for' about thirti j minutes more or less to insure of t e-liquor'containing the solvent extractives and alkali, thoroughly impregnating the cells and fibers of the vmaterial to act'on the constituents associated with the cellulose,without in any way injuring the cellulose and the cellulosic. material; To cause the mostefiectiveaetion of the-liquor of the pain 1 is continued so that at this" is circulated in vthe tank, which with the high heat-and pressure, produces a uniform distribution of the liquor componentsin and around the material. The liquor treating step inmy process is important, as the previous treatmentof the plant material by mixture of the solvent extractives and alkali materially assists the The liquor serves to. melt and dissolve resins and remove same from within the plant material; removes tannins and organic matter, which if allowed to remain would cause a tanning efiect upon the fibers of the plant material and-thereby deteriorate its from the plant material;

The treatment ofthe plant material by valueand it also removes mineral salts the liquor initially charged with solvent extractives from plantmaterial and an alkali,

lightens the color of the fplant'material b ing'treated, a phenomena. which cannot well be explained, but actual demonstratlon has shown, it to bq; a fact. It is thought that the first subjec ion of the lant material to the combined action of so vent extractives and alkali at low temperature, materially assists inthe accomplishment of this highly important result: I It is further believed that with this preliminary treatment, the subsequent treatment of the plant material by the liquor and the differences in temperature surroundin thesame, from the time it ist e tank to be treated until the placed 'in is completed, bring about certa n treatment unexplained actions and reactions onthe material, without afi'ectin the fiber. The light color of the final pro uCtJS one of the results .of this treatment.

During the time the plant material s treated in the liquor, ebullition of the liquor in the tank 1, and the liberation of the constituents from the material being treated, cause certain of these constituents to rise to the top. This layer or surface accumulation on the liquor contains resinous substances,

terpene's, and other bypiroductsdiberated from the plant material, which would be detri- {mental to the final product produced by my "process if permitted to come into .contact with the atmosphere, and thereafter remain in the liquor or in the material, and yet these byproducts are valuable as extractives for future use, if kept from contact with the atmosphere. Hence after the material is treated with the liquor in the tank 1, valve 6, in pipe 5, is opened, and pressure in tank 1 blows the constituents on top of the liquor and volatile extractives above the liquor,

over into the bottom-of tank 2, where same are preserved for use on a subsequent charge of. plant material. This suddenly reduces the pressure in tank 1, which causes an outward movement of the liquor containing the iconstituents from the material being treated, pressure in tank 2 at this time being below the pressure in tank 1. Valve 6-, is closed and the volatile and other constituents saved from the charge in tank 1, are

, preserved, without same in'anywise coming into contact with the atmosphere and causmg oxidation or other deterioration. When valve 6 is closed, valve 7 a is opened and the pump 7 is started which, with the contained and pumps 31 and 36 are started.

pressure, forces all the liquor from tank 1, through pipe 7 and into the bottom oftank 2, then valve 7 is closed.

In this transfer of the. liquor from one.

tank to the other, the liberated extractives and the resinous properties are carried over without in anywise coming into contact with the atmosphere, and the original liquor is thereby enriched and preserved for. a subsequent treatment, the lighter properties of course rising to the top of the liquor in tank 2. r i

After the now super-charged liquor has been transferred to tank 2, and valve 7 closed, valves 28, 31", 33 and 38 are 0 ened, ump

' 31 pulls a vacuum of about 15 inches in tank 1, which will draw moisture, volatile extractives and remaining dissolved constituents from the innermost cells of the plant Y Y cooking or boiling the material .at atmos tines a temperature substance and transfer same .to the tank 34, from whence they are transferred into tank '2 by the pump 36, and are preserved to pneic pressure. 'lherefore to let the meanmg of this term be understood in connection with the present invention, it maybe said that super-heated as herein employed deand corresponding pressure above the normal boiling point of the quid 'andof the solvent constituents of the ant materialand alkali when mixed with li P such. extractives beingwater. I have found that peculiar beneficial results in'the treatment ofthe material flow from .the use of super-heated liquor, and in the present case advantage is taken of these results by super-heating the liquor initially char ed with an alkali and solvent extractives of the plant material. In other words practical demonstrations have proven.

that by super-heating the initially charged liquor, the combined temperatureand pressureproduces a condition, whether chemical or physical, I am unable to state, that effectually treats the material to remove certain properties and constituents from the material which may be used for subse uent use, without impairing the quality o the fiber. In addition,the liquor and the treatment, instead of discoloring or darkening the product, acts to materially lighten the color which is of tremendous importance in producing a high grade product.

The initially charged liquor, after its first use is enriched to a degree equal to the amount of .extractives received from the previous treatment, and as the liquor and extractives. are preventedfrom coming into contact with the air, it will'be' understood.

that the values of the solvent extractives is maintainedin the liquor when subsequent 1y used. I regard this as important, as the added extractives commingle and intermix with the alkali, and produce a liquor which is highly efficient to extract, dissolve, re-

7 move and otherwise treat the plant material without jeopardizing the fibers.

It is to be understood that I only employ alkalis which will so act onthe plant mate-. rial asto bring about the foregoingactions and; results, and in no instance will an alkali be employed which'will not cooperate with. the extractives from the plant material when applying same to the materials with the temperatures employed at the periods of treatment stated. I have found that a fraction of one percent of such alkalis is suflicientto produce the desired results.

Care must be taken to refrain from using.

alkali insuch amounts that the fibers will be aflected thereby, and care must also be taken to arrest the treatment before fibers. of the material become deteriorated.

When the processis completed .the'treated material may be removed from the digester; a

in any appropriate manner, but if the treat-..

'ed material should have been suchas to have reached the stage of pulp, then the ,valve in.

pipe 1 is opened and the pulp is blown into blow pit 50, 'valves 52, 31,33 and 38 are opened and vacuum pumps 31 and pump 36 are started. The vapor charged with extracti'ves from the pulp massis thus drawn from the'blow pit. condensed and introduced into the bottomof the tank 2, to enrich the 5 liquorfor future use. From .the foregoing description, it will be appreci'ated that the process described is a decided improvement in the art of treating plant material, as it enables me to commercialize many plant materials which, -so' far' as I am aware, find their wayto the waste pile.

- What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v 4

1. The process of treating plant material comprising impregnating the plant material with heated liquor initially charged with an alkali and volatile and other solvent extractives of plant material to remove from the material being treated solvent extractives and. other byproducts of the plant material. a r

2..The process of treating plant material comprising treating the plant material with a liquor initially charged with an alkali and extractives of plant material while substan tially free from atmosphere, to remove "from the plant material volatile and other solvent extractives of the plant material and to cause a lightening of the color of said material.

3. The process of treating plant material comprising treating the plant material with heated vapors initially charged with an alkali and extractives' from plant material to I the material being treated solvent extrac-' preliminarily soften the" fibrous structure,

tives of plant material.

5. The process of treating plant material,

comprising applying to the plant material. super-heated solvents initiall charged with I an alkali and volatile and ot er'solvent extractives of plant material to raise thetemp'erature of the plant material and soften the fibrous structure thereof. p

6. The process of treating plant material comprising impregnating the plant material with heated liquor, initially char d with an alkali and volatile and other so vent extractives of plant material to removefrom tives and other by-products of the plant material, and removing 'yapors and solvent extractives liberated from the plant material accumulated on or at the surface of the li uor above the material. v The process of treating plant consisting in saturating the plant material in heated liquor initially charged with an alkali and volatile and other solvent extractives from plant material, and thereafter removing such charged li nor from the plant material, and thensub ecting the plant O v .compr s ngspraymg material to a vacuum.

'-liquor previously used material 8. process of treating plant material comprisingremoving air therefrom and while substantially free of air, applying to such' plant material solvents initially charged with an alkali and volatile and other solvent extractives of plant material," then applying to the plant material under treatment liquor initially charged with an alkali and volatile and other solvent extractives of plant material, then prior to the removal of the liquor from around the .plant material under treatment, removing volatile extractives. and resinous properties accumulated above the plant material undertreatment, then removing the liquor from around theplant material, then subjecting the plant "material to a vacuum.

9. The process of treating plant material comprising subjecting the plant material to a vacuum, and while the vacuum is on, treating the material with heated vapors charged with volatile solvent extractives of plant material and ,an alkali.

10. The process oftreating plant material, comprising'treating the plant material in a zone, initially {charged with heated volatile and other solvent e'xtractives of. plant material and an alkali, to remove solvent extrac-' tives and other constituents from the plant material, and arresting the treatment berial.

' fore deterioration of the fibers of the mate-:-

11. The process of treating plant material comprising treating the plant material in a vacuum zone initially charged with heated volatile and other solvent extractives of plant material'and an alkali to remove solvent extractives and other constituents from 'theplant material, and arresting the treat:

ment before deterioration of the fibres of the material.

comprising treating the lant material with super-heated liquor previo'usly used-in alike treatment and charged with an alkaliand volatile and other solvent extractives of lant material and having been preserved ee of contact with the air its previous use and strengthened by adding alkall, ar-

resting the treatment by removing theliquor y from around the material, and-then re ucing the ressure in and around the material to disso from. the plant material.

13. The process of treating plant material' comprising; spraying 12. The process of treating plant material ve and remove -shlvent' extractives the air since its revious use and'strengthened by adding a solvent extractives 14. 5 The process of the plant material with ali to dissolve and remove y from the plant mater al treating plant material liquor previousl used in a like treatment and charged wit an'a-lkali and volatile and other solvent extractives of lant material and having been preserved ree of contact with the air since its previous use and strengtheped by adding alkali, at a temperature belo the normal boiling point and then submerging the plant material in like liquor and maintaining a temperature in excess of the normal boiling point and a correspondmg pressure to dissolve and remove solvent extractives from the plant material.

'15. The process of treating plant material comprising spraying the plant material with liquor previously used in alike treatment and charge with an alkali and volatile and other solvent extractives of lant material and having been preserved ,tree of contact with the air since its previous use. and strengthened by adding alkali while feeding the ma-.

terialto be treated at .or' about atmospheric pressure, continuing the treatment with a pressure below atmospheric and at a temrature below the normal boiling point and" t en submerging the plant material in like liquor and maintainin a temperature in excess ofthe normal boiling point and a cor- ;responding pressure to dissolve and remove solvent extraotives from the plant material. 16 The process of treating plant substance, consisting in circulating in and around the V plant'mater'ial liquor previously used in a' tainin a tem stances consisting ytractives of plant material and havingbeen' ke treatment and charged with an alkali .o and volatile and other solvent extractives 0f lant material and having been preserved e .of contact with the air since its previous use and strengthened by-adding alkali, mainrature in and around the matenal elowt enormal boiling point of the hquor, and subsequently submerging the plant. material in the liquor while same is maintained at a temperature in excess of the=- normal boiling point. of the liquor and at a corresponding pressure to dissolve and remove solvent extractives from the plant ma-..

- terial. I

17. The process of treating plant sub- .in circulatmg in spray form in and around the plant material, liq uor previously used in a ike treatment and charged with an alkali-and solvent .extractlves of plant material and having been preserved'free'pf contact with the an since its previous use and-strengthened by adding alel; l andwhile circulatin the liquor maintammg a vacuum, destroymg the vacuum by mtroduo ng, further heated like liquor and submerglng the material, and continuing the 6b circulation ofthe li uo-r.

' 18 The process 0 treating plant substance conslsting h liquor previousl' 5 used in a hke treatment and charged wit an alkali 'andvolatile and other solvent ex-i inlsubmergm .the material to be treated. in super-heats .preser'ved free of contact with the air since its previous use and strengthened by adding alkali, and circulating the pressure. 19. The process of treating plant substance consisting in circulating in and around the plant material liquor previously used in a like treatment and charged with an alkali and volatile and other solvent extracstance consisting in treating the plant mate-' rial to the action of liquor previously used in a like treatment and charged with an alliquor while under kali and volatile and .other solvent extrac tives of plant material and having been-preserved free of contact with the air since its previous use and strengthened by adding alali, maintaining a temperature in and around the material below the normal boiling point of the liquor, and subsequently submerging the plant material 'in the liquor while same is maintained at a temperature in excess of the normal boiling point of the liquor and at a corresponding pressure to dissolve and remove solvent extractives from the 7 plant material.

p21. The process of treating plant material- :for the manufacture of pulp, comprising removing air from thematerial being treated, applying to the material under treatment 'while substantially free from air, heated vapor charged with an alkali or like reagent and solvents of plant material, the treatment preventing oxidation of the material and softening the fibers and removing solventextractives from said material.

22. The process of treating plant'mate- 'into a digester, while withdrawing liquor from the bottom of the digester and spray? 7 ing same in the top to saturate the said extractives from a blow it and incorporat-.

ing same in a treating liquor in which the material is treated. I

24. A three stage process of treating plant material which consists in charging the material into a digester containin liquor, removing air from said charge an finally treating the charge with a. further supply Inn -1 m rial, which consists in charging the material of liquor, wherein duringeach stage liquor.

is withdrawn from" the bottomof the digester and sprayed on top of the charge therein.

:wherein the liquor during the first 25. A process as defined in claim 24 wherein the liquorfdnri'n the first stage is relatively strong in an added alkali.

26. A process'as defined in claim 24;

relatively strong in alkali and is charged with-volatile solvent 'extractives of the plant materials.

27. A process wherein the liquor during the third stage is enriched with additional alkali and contains volatile and other solvent extractives of the plant materials.

, 28. An apparatus for treating plant material. having in combination with. a closedtank a blow-pit and a liquor supply tank,

' a condenser connected with said blow-pit and adapted to recover the volatile solvent extractives evolved from the charge in the blow-pit and discharge the same into said liquor supply vacuum in said closed ,tank and means for withdrawing liquor'fromthe bottom of the 'Qclosed tank and spraying the same on the top of the charge in the said tank.

29. The process oftrea'ting fibrous mate-- rial consisting in cooking said fibrous mate:

I ring liquor treated material and'reti1rning same to the" rial inldigesting liquor under'pressure in a digester, suddenly reducing the pressure of the digesting liquor to or about that of the atmosphere by releasing fluid fronra space in the upper portion of the digesterabovc the body of liquor to a liquor tank, transfertrom the lower portion of 'the digester to said liquor tank, removingfthe treated collecting the extractives evolved from the The process of I making pulp from plant material comprisingetooking the matenused in-a pre- ..v1ou s cook and. preserved free of atmosrial in liquor which has been used in a previous cook, and

stage is as defined in, claim 24:

. been used in a tank, means for creating a fibrous material to a blow pit, and

tile and other solvent extractives and alkali and is super-heated at the timeit is introduced to the material.

31. The process of making pulp comprisingcooking the material in liquor which has thereafter preserved free of the atmosphere and which has been strengthened in volatile and other solvent .extractives and .alkali and is in a super-heated condition at the time'it is introduced to the material.

32. The process of making pulp from plant material comprising cooking the material in liquor which has been used in a previous cook and-which has been strengthened in volatile and other solvent extractives and alkali and is super-heated 'at the time it is introduced to the material.

33. T heprocess of making pulp comprising cooking the material in hquor which has previous cook, and thereafter preserved free of the atmosphere and which substantially retains its heat and which has been strengthened in volatile and other solvent jextractives and alkali and superheatedat the timeit'is ihtroducedto the material.-

34..In a pulp producing process, the step which consists in preserving all the volatile ,and other solvent I the digester and evolved from and'contained I extractives in the treating process.

[35, In a pulp which consists in liquor for further use in the in]ect1ng mto the material produced in Y prddueing process the step to be treated su-per heated vapors charged with volatile extractives from said material.

36. In a 'pulp producingv apparatus a digester in combination with means for skimming ation, and means for independently remojr -ing treated liquor containing solvent ex--- the .dig'ester after a cooking opertracti-ves and, gases or vapors containing volatile'extractiyes.

In testimon whereof I afiix my si nature. g a 5 EDERICK K. FIS JR. 

